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May 29: FRSC deploys 365 personnel, 40 patrol vans to control traffic

Ehime ALEX
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May 29: FRSC deploys 365 personnel, 40 patrol vans to control traffic

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 365 personnel, 40 patrol vehicles, 15 bikes and 10 tow trucks to control traffic along all routes leading to the venue of the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29.

The Corps Marshal Dauda Biu ordered the deployment, according to a statement issued on Friday, May 26, by FRSC’s public education officer Bisi Kazeem.

Biu also ordered the deployment of 155 traffic cones, 15 ambulances, 84 patrolites and a number of reflective tapes to augment the entrenchment of safety and ease of movement.

He urged the personnel to collaborate with the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force as well as other security organisations detailed for the national programme.

The Corps Marshall called on road users to comply with restrictions of movement.

The areas to be cordoned for diversion of traffic include the Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by the Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/ Total Filling Station, Federal Capital Development Authority junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS, Ministry of Women Affairs junction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eagle Square ( Phase 1&2).

Others are Kur Mohammed Road/ National Mosque, Abia House junction, NITEL junction by Ademola Adetokunbo street, Gama junction/ Transcorp, Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, CEDDI Plaza, NNPC Twin Towers as well as NNPC/ NBS.

“The Corps personnel will also play active role in piloting dignitaries from the following locations; Old Parade Ground – Eagle Square, International Conference Centre, Eagle Square, and Eagle Square Pavilion.

“The Corps will also engage in strategic crowd control in and around the inauguration venue,” the statement added.

The ICIR reported that the police has tightened security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the inauguration of a new administration on May 29.

The inauguration will usher in a new administration headed by President-elect Bola Tinubu, who was declared winner of the February 25 president election.

In a statement on Friday, May 26, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FCT Police Command Josephine Adeh said officers and men of the Police Force have been deployed to beef up security in the territory ahead of the event.

There are also collaborations between the Police and other security agencies to ensure that the event is held without any form of violence.

“The strategic, operational deployment is characterized by visibility policing across the Territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance, vehicular/foot patrol, and diversions at strategic points,” the statement released by the FCT Police Command said.

Amid legal battle, Nigeria Air branded aircraft sighted in Ethiopia

Ehime ALEX
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Amid legal battle, Nigeria Air branded aircraft sighted in Ethiopia

AN AIRCRAFT, branded Nigeria Air, is reported to have been sighted at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia, and is expected to head to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, today Friday, May 26.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had on Thursday, May 25 disclosed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s resolve to birth a new national air carrier had finally come to fruition and an aircraft to that effect would be arriving in Nigeria today.

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The ‘Nigeria Air’ branded aircraft is believed to be one of the three Boeing 737-800 that Sirika said the carrier would be commencing operations with.

The other two aeroplanes are expected in Nigeria latest next week.

“Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly,” the aviation minister had said, adding that the aircraft would be unveiled in Nigeria’s colours.

Amid Sirika’s enthusiasm is a litigation challenging the Federal government’s technical partnership with Ethiopian Airline.

The Federal government had in September 2022 announced Ethiopian Airline as the preferred bidder for the technical partnership on Nigeria Air. In the stakeholding arrangement on the new national carrier, Ethiopian Airline has a majority controlling stake of 49 per cent, Nigerian investors (comprising MRS, SAHCO and the Nigerian Sovereign Fund) 46 per cent, and the Federal government 5 per cent.

Sirika said Ethiopian Airline emerged the preferred bidder because it performed best in the technical and financial bids.

Domestic operators under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have, however, faulted the outgoing minister’s intention to launch the operations of Nigeria Air, citing a restraining court order.

The AON members had, through their lawyers, written a letter to the President, Muhammadu Buhari to stop the minister’s attempt to circumvent the court order, today being the last working day of his administration.

The local airlines lamented that Sirika chose his last working day in the office to bring in two aircraft in contravention of the court order on the project.

Some stakeholders in the aviation sector are concerned about the last-minute rush by the minister to bring in the aircraft.

An aviation industry analyst, Simon Tumba, expressed, in a chat with The ICIR, his misgivings on the Federal government’s choice of the technical partner for Nigeria Air, saying, “Ethiopia is a natural competitor to Nigeria, so there is a conflict of interest.”

Tumba argued that the aviation minister had seven and half years to plan and execute the project, “but he has failed woefully.”

He said, “Even if he manages to get an aircraft to demonstrate any launch operation before May 29, it’s still a failure.”

Tumba said he would rather prefer a flag carrier than a national carrier.

“Nigeria has never demonstrated the ability to run a successful government commercial enterprise since Independence due to corruption. The demise of Nigeria Airways was largely due to corruption, hence I don’t support the government’s involvement in a commercial enterprise,” he maintained.

An aviation expert and analyst, Ado Sanusi, said today on Channels TV Sunrise Daily that it would be practically impossible for the airline to take off in the next two days, as resolved by Sirika.

According to Sanusi, it would be one thing to bring the aeroplane to the country, but it would be another to get the airline itself practically operational, especially as regards all the necessary approvals from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Sanusi, who is the chief executive officer of Aero Contractors, explained the take-off would not be possible because the airline’s aircraft would have to do the compulsory demonstration flights and would need to complete all five phases.

He pointed out that the international community would be watching Nigeria to know if it would be following what the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has stipulated in its recommended practices and laid-down procedures for the commercial carriage of passengers internationally.

“So I don’t think that the Director-General, who had once worked in the ICAO, would flout those rules,” he added.

Nigeria has been without a national carrier since the collapse of Nigeria Airways, despite several failed attempts to float one.

Female journalist accuses police of assault in Katsina

Ijeoma OPARA
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Female journalist accuses police of assault in Katsina

A FEMALE journalist with Cliqq TV in Katsina Rukayya Jibia has said she was assaulted by policemen attached to the state Police Command.

In a video circulating on social media, Jibia said she was assaulted for speaking up against the parade of four young women arrested over alleged prostitution by the police, though the ladies had not been convicted or tried.

“Few days back, the Katsina State Police Command paraded four young ladies between the ages 19-23, claiming they were into prostitution.

“Upon seeing that video, I recorded a video on my personal TikTok page, where I quoted a section in the Nigerian constitution, which I suggested to the police that they should have taken the girls to court till they are proven guilty before parading them before the press,” Jibia said.

According to the journalist, she got a call from the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Gambo Isah inviting her to the palace of the Emir, identified as Abdulmumini Kabir Usman.

However, she said she was accosted on her way to the palace by Isah, who arrived with about four other vehicles. She said the policemen assaulted her.

“They dragged me out of my car and broke my phone. I sustained injury. They dragged me to the Emir’s palace. Gambo Isah told the Emir that I am responsible for looking down on the police and undermining their authority; I’m also responsible for sabotaging their work, and the Emir assigned them to remand me,” Jibia said.

Speaking with The ICIR on Friday, May 26, Jibia said about 20 police officers were involved in the incident, which she said occurred on Monday, May 22.

She further disclosed that she was taken to court by the police, but the judge was not available, after which she was detained for about five hours before her lawyer secured her release on bail.

“Gambo Isah personally opened the car door. He twisted my hand. He broke my phone, smashed it on the ground,” she told The ICIR, adding that she was not allowed to defend or explain herself at the Emir’s palace.

“When I was taken to the Emir’s palace, I was not allowed to speak. I was not given the chance to defend myself. The Emir just worked based on what Gambo Isah had said,” Jibia stated.

Isah did not respond to calls by The ICIR over the issue on Friday. But reacting to the video through a statement on Twitter, he described Jibia’s claims as frivolous allegations, adding that the journalist had been maliciously attacking the police via social media.

“Recently, the KTS Metro was faced with incessant attacks by Kauraye, phone snatchers and other crimes. The Command swung into action, raided criminal hideouts, including brothels, which led to the arrest of 72 suspected persons. Four young women suspected to be sex workers were among those arrested and paraded before the press.

“Rukayya did not appreciate the efforts of the NPF in nipping in the bud the crime disturbing the community, but took to her usual TikTok and continued to rant on the police for arresting and parading the women,” Isah noted.

He added that he had reported her to the Emir, who directed that she be invited.

“Rukayya refused police invitation, dragged with police officers who exercised restraint despite abuse and videos. She was recording the police. She took them places and (they) kept following her before she later decided to follow the police. The Emir, as a father counselled her and directed the Area Commander to investigate the matter,” Isah noted.

He added that Jibia jumped bail after she was released and escaped police investigation.

However, Jibia said she went into hiding out of fear on Wednesday, May 24, as she was told the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) instead of the court.

“The next day, they said I should come back. That was when I ran, because we were hoping that they will take me to court so that I will be tried. But instead, the Area Commander said that he was given instructions to take me to the State CID, and I was so scared for my life because I know how the police rough handled me. I was so scared and my lawyer was not there,” Jibia told The ICIR.

Isah also explained via his social media handle that it is not true that suspects are not supposed to be paraded before trial.

However, Human Rights Lawyer Inibehe Effiong, in an interview with The ICIR on Friday, said parading of suspects before trial is extrajudicial and illegal.

“If the police believe that an offence has been committed, they can effect an arrest and then arraign the person before a court of competent jurisdiction. The practice of parading suspects is illegal. It is not in conformity with the law because what they have done is engage in media trial and subject the person, who is still presumed innocent, to public condemnation.

“So that should not be encouraged. Parading of suspects is not part of the powers given to the police under the Police Act. It is also not allowed under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. But more importantly, it violates the conditional rights to dignity of a human person,” Effiong noted.

Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, provides that every individual is entitled to the dignity of his person.

Section 36(5) also states that “every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty”.

Effiong noted that parading pre-trial suspects is an act which violates the law and should be discouraged.

Atiku reacts to Supreme Court judgment, says battle continues

Mustapha USMAN
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Atiku reacts to Supreme Court judgment, says battle continues

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said the ruling of the Supreme Court on the suit filed by the party was not a setback in his quest for justice.

The former Vice President disclosed this in a statement shared on his Twitter handle on Friday, May 26.

The PDP candidate noted that the legal team was primed to robustly prove that the February 25 presidential election was fraudulent and did not comply with the constitutional requirements and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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The ICIR had earlier reported that the Apex court dismissed a suit filed by the PDP for the disqualification of President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima over alleged double nomination.

The Supreme Court Justice, Adamu Jauro, who delivered the judgment, said the PDP acted as an intrusive interloper and a busybody by filing the suit.

The court further described the PDP’s action as misleading and “sad.”

It further awarded a sum of N2 million against the party, noting that the suit lacked merit.

Reacting to the dismissal. Atiku tweeted, “The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case of the #OfficialPDPNig is not a setback to my quest for justice. 

“Our legal team are primed to robustly prove that the election of February 25 was fraudulent, did not comply with the constitutional requirements and the electoral guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, #inecnigeria, and that the announced winner was not even qualified to contest the poll.

“The battle for democracy and the enthronement of a new order to spur growth and development in Nigeria is one to which I have committed my all and for which I am not ready to walk away at this point when our nation is at crossroads. 

“We know that sooner than later, our esteemed Justices will make the pronouncement that will serve as a befitting requiem for mandate bandits. 

“I urge my supporters to exercise patience and conduct themselves peaceably as we diligently conduct our litigation at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court.”

The suit

The PDP, had on July 28, 2022, filed a suit asking for the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the 2023 presidential election on the grounds that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate amounted to double nomination, in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.

The party argued that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice president and Borno Central senatorial seat breached the law.

Subsequently, an Abuja Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed the suit.

The party asked the Supreme Court to reverse the Court of Appeal judgment, which held that the party failed to establish its locus standi, noting that Shettima’s disqualification for double nomination could halt the swearing-in of Tinubu as President since they ran a combined ticket.

On May 22, The ICIR reported that the Supreme Court fixed May 26 to deliver judgment in the suit.

At the apex court, the party’s lawyer Joe Agim told argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier admitted Shettima’s double nomination at the Court of Appeal.

“There’s a punishment for double nomination,” Agim said.

The PDP requested that the Supreme Court exercise its authority and assume jurisdiction over the case to overturn the lower courts’ earlier rulings and reassess the parties’ arguments.

The PDP claimed that Shettima’s nominations for vice president and Senator are against the terms of the Electoral Act.

The party also explained that Shettima’s Senate nomination had not been withdrawn from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he was nominated as Tinubu’s running mate, arguing that running for two posts at once was unlawful.

Court dismisses suit against Tinubu’s inauguration, fines plaintiffs N15m 

Bankole ABE
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Court dismisses suit against Tinubu’s inauguration, fines plaintiffs N15m 

AN Abuja Federal High Court has dismissed a suit seeking an interim injunction to stop President-elect Bola Tinubu from being inaugurated as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29.

 In a ruling delivered by presiding judge James Omotosho on Friday, May 26, the court concluded that it lacked the necessary jurisdiction to grant the request made in an ex-parte application that three persons who described themselves as Concerned Nigerians brought before it. 

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 657/2023, the plaintiffs — Anongu Moses, Praise Isaiah and Paul Audu – who described themselves as Concerned Nigerians claimed that Tinubu lied under oath on his Form EC9 when he claimed he wasn’t a citizen of another nation.

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Additionally, they claimed that the President-elect misrepresented his age under oath.

The plaintiffs informed the court that despite having a passport from Guinea, the President-elect claimed he was a citizen of no other nation.

Concerning educational qualifications, the plaintiffs informed the court that further research had shown that ‘Bola Tinubu’ was a female who had studied at Chicago University in the United States of America.

Additionally, they said that although the President-elect claimed to have been born in 1957, it was determined that he was actually born in 1952.

They claimed that Tinubu’s conduct violated Section 117 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 156 of the Penal Code Act in flagrant ways.

In order to prevent Tinubu from taking office while cases before the Presidential Election Petition Court are being decided, the petitioners, among other things, petitioned the court to order his incarceration.

In addition, they asked the court to prohibit Tinubu from running for any elective office for the following 10 years.

The plaintiffs testified before the court that they had cast ballots in the February 25 presidential election.

In its ruling, the court stated that the lawsuit was “unconstitutional, frivolous, and vexatious”, adding that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (legal standing) to bring it.

The court emphasised that only a candidate can contest the eligibility or nomination of a candidate in an election under Section 285 (14) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

It further ruled that only the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear cases involving the presidential election because the election has already been held.

Omotosho further held that by launching the lawsuit, which he described as an abuse of the legal system, the plaintiffs wasted the court’s time.

The judge ruled that the lawsuit was filed in bad faith because it was intended to make the judiciary an object of mockery.

Omotosho warned that the lawyers who assisted the plaintiffs in the lawsuit will be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and stated that the court would not allow itself to be used as a tool to destabilise the nation.

He thereafter dismissed the case and awarded a total of N15 million against the plaintiffs – N10 and N5 million in favour of Tinubu and the APC respectively.

The court also fined the plaintiffs’ lawyers N1 million.

 

The court decided that the cost awarded against the plaintiffs will accrue 10 per cent interest annually until its final liquidation.

In another development, the Supreme Court, on Friday, May 26, dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the disqualification of President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima over alleged double nomination.

In a ruling which paved the way for Tinubu and Shettima’s inauguration on May 29, the Supreme Court held that the PDP lacked the locus standi to file the lawsuit.

Adamu Jauro, the Supreme Court Justice who delivered the judgment, noted that the PDP acted as an intrusive interloper and a busybody by filing the suit.

The court further described the PDP’s action as misleading and “sad”.

The apex court awarded a sum of N2 million against the PDP and dismissed the suit for lacking merit.

Similarly, on March 30, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by a former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, seeking the disqualification of the presidential candidates of the APC, Tinubu and the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, from the just concluded presidential election.

The court dismissed the appeal when the former minister withdrew it after learning that it had been submitted outside the legal deadline and was; therefore, statute barred.

The Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had dismissed the matter on the grounds that the case lacked merit.

Nwajiuba and a non-governmental organisation, Rights for Everyone International, had petitioned the Supreme Court to annul the procedures that resulted in Tinubu and Abubakar emerging as the candidates for their respective political parties.

Also, the Court Of Appeal on May 25 slammed a N40 million fine on an ex-presidential candidate, Ambrose Owuru, for filing a suit to stop Tinubu’s inauguration.

The three-member panel of the court led by Jamil Tukur determined that by initiating a frivolous, vexatious, and annoying lawsuit to irritate the respondents, Owuru had engaged in a blatant abuse of the legal system.

Owuru, the presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in the 2019 elections, filed a suit in April challenging the outcome of the 2019 elections. He claimed he won the poll.

He requested that the court declare the President’s seat vacant and order that he be sworn in as the legitimate winner.

However, in its judgment on May 25, the appellate court decided that the appellant’s complaints about the 2019 presidential election were unusual and unwarranted, given that they had been taken to the highest court and were rejected for lack of substance.

The court ruled that Owuru’s attempt to revive the case that was dismissed in 2019 was made to bring lower courts into conflict with the supremacy of the apex court.

The court ordered that the defendants in the case — President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Tinubu — should receive N10 million each from Owuru as compensation.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tinubu and Shettima will be sworn in as President and Vice President on May 29 for a tenure of four years.

Tinubu was declared the winner of the presidential poll held on February 25. 

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner with 8,794,726 votes.

Tinubu will sustain tempo on infrastructure development — Buhari

Beloved JOHN
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Tinubu will sustain tempo on infrastructure development — Buhari

PRESIDENT Mohammed Buhari says the President-elect Bola Tinubu will sustain his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development in the country.

He said this while delivering an address virtually on Friday, May 26, to commission four federal government projects.

The four projects are the Nigerian Navy Logistics College Dawakin Tofa, a 3000-capacity ultramodern correctional centre, the New International Terminal Building of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, as well as the procurement of aircraft, equipment and buildings at the College of Aviation Technology Zaria, Kaduna State.

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Speaking on the handover scheduled for Monday, May 29, Buhari said Tinubu will work to improve the availability of infrastructure across the country, as he has done.

He expressed confidence in the President-elect and assured Nigerians that the incoming administration will sustain his tempo of growth and development in Nigeria.

“I am pleased to now commission the Nigerian Navy Logistic College Dawakin Tofa, Kano state, 3000-capacity, the Ultramodern Correctional Centre, Kano, new airport terminal of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Aircraft Equipments and buildings at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria Kaduna state.

“The four projects that were commissioned today are critical at this time; I have no doubt that the incoming government, which is also progressive, will sustain the tempo of improvement,” he said.

Buhari is set to vacate the Aso Presidential Villa on Monday and hand over to President-elect Bola Tinubu.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate had been declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election, polling 8,794,726 votes.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission, Tinubu had over 25 per cent of the votes cast in 30 states, more than the 24 states constitutionally required.

INEC said Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second in the election with 6,984,520 votes. While Labour Party candidate Peter Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes.

Family of slain police officer sues Army, demands N300m compensation

Vincent Ufuoma
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Family of slain police officer sues Army, demands N300m compensation

THE family of a slain police officer, Orukpe Monday, killed by soldiers in Lagos State, has dragged the Nigerian Army to court for extra-judicial killing.

Monday, an inspector, died in August 2022 after he and his colleagues were allegedly tortured by a group of angry soldiers at the Trade Fair area of Lagos State.

The soldiers, said to be travelling to the Ojo Military Cantonment, had an argument with police operatives who were coordinating traffic on the highway.

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The argument sparked a fight between the policemen and the soldiers who overpowered them and bundled two officers, including Monday, to their barracks.

One policeman was able to flee the scene after struggling with the soldiers with his gun and shooting in the air.

Monday died at the military hospital due to injuries he sustained from the assault by the soldiers.

Two autopsies carried out on the deceased revealed that he died of assault, multiple injuries and blunt force trauma.

The autopsies were conducted by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Nigerian Army Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo.

The autopsy from LASUTH, signed on October 27 by a doctor, O.O. Onayemi of the Department of Pathology and Forensics, revealed that multiple injuries and blunt force trauma caused Monday’s death.

The Nigerian Army’s autopsy report signed by I. Agueze revealed that the primary cause of death was assault, while the secondary cause was a head injury.

Monday’s family is now seeking justice and compensation from the Nigerian Army.

In a suit filed by human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, on Thursday, May 25, the deceased’s wife, Favour Monday, is seeking a N300 million compensation for her late husband.

Parties in the suit include the Chief of Army Staff Faruk Yahaya and 10 officers of the Nigerian Army.

Falana, in the suit, stated that the late police officer’s fundamental rights, including the right to life, dignity of the human person, private and family life, and presumption of innocence, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, were grossly violated.

He argued that the extra-judicial killing perpetrated by the soldiers of the Nigerian Army violated Monday’s rights.

In the same vein, he asked the court to declare the torture and extra-judicial killing of the police officer as illegal and unlawful.

“We graciously pray my Lord to so hold and grant the reliefs as sought in the statement accompanying this application. On the whole, we urge your Lordship to find that this application has merit and in finding as such make the declarations and orders sought herein,” parts of the suit read.

“The applicant is a Nigerian, a resident of Otta in Ogun State and the wife of Inspector Orukpe Monday, who was gruesomely murdered by the agents of the first respondent.

“The deceased, Inspector Monday was an Inspector of the police with the Trade Fair Police Divisional Headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command, murdered on August 3, 2022, along Lagos/Badagry Expressway, Lagos while carrying out his official duties as a police officer.

“The deceased, Inspector Monday was entitled to his right to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing and presumption of innocence guaranteed by Sections 33, 34 and 36 (1) and (5) of Nigeria (As Amended) and Articles 4, 5 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (CAP A10) LFN 2004.

“The extra-judicial killing of the applicant’s husband, Inspector Monday by armed agents of the first respondent at the Lagos/Badagry Expressway of Lagos State on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, violates the deceased’s fundamental right to life guaranteed by Section 33 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) 1999 (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.

“The brutalisation and indiscriminate killing of the applicant’s husband, Inspector Monday by the respondents at the Lagos/Badagry Expressway of Lagos State on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, is wrongful, oppressive, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the deceased’s fundamental right to the dignity of the human person.

“The extra-judicial murder of the applicant’s husband, Inspector Monday by the respondents at the Lagos/Badagry Expressway of Lagos State on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, is wrongful, oppressive, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the deceased’s fundamental right to fair hearing and presumption of innocence.”

The senior lawyer asked the court to make an order compelling the respondents to pay a total sum of N300 million as compensation.

The N300 million include the establishment a special education fund of not less than N100 million to cater for the educational needs of the deceased’s children from primary school up to the university of their choices.

It also include N200 million as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of Monday’s fundamental rights.

Supreme Court rejects PDP’s request for Tinubu, Shettima’s disqualification

Bankole ABE
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Supreme Court rejects PDP’s request for Tinubu, Shettima’s disqualification

THE Supreme Court, on Friday, May 26, dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the disqualification of President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima over alleged double nomination.

In a ruling which paved the way for Tinubu and Shettima’s inauguration on May 29, the Supreme Court held that the PDP lacked the locus standi to file the lawsuit.

Adamu Jauro, the Supreme Court Justice who delivered the judgment, noted that the PDP acted as an intrusive interloper and a busybody by filing the suit.

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The court further described the PDP’s action as misleading and “sad”.

The apex court awarded a sum of N2 million against the PDP and dismissed the suit for lacking merit.

On May 22, The ICIR reported that the Supreme Court fixed May 26 to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the PDP for the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima.

The PDP, in the suit filed on July 28, 2022, asked for the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the 2023 presidential election on the grounds that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate amounted to double nomination, in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.

The party argued that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice president and Borno Central senatorial seat breached the law.

An Abuja Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed the suit.

The PDP asked the Supreme Court to reverse the Court of Appeal judgment, which held that the party failed to establish its locus standi, noting that Shettima’s disqualification for double nomination could halt the swearing-in of Tinubu as President since they ran a combined ticket.

Lawyer to PDP Joe Agim told the court that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier admitted Shettima’s double nomination at the Court of Appeal.

“There’s a punishment for double nomination,” Agim said.

In its argument, the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that the PDP lacked the locus standi to file the suit, challenging the political party’s decision and its nomination of candidates for the polls.

The APC argued that the issue of contention concerned the political party’s internal affairs.

The party also noted that after 180 days, it was too late for the PDP to file a case on the subject with the Supreme Court. 

However, in its rejoinder, the PDP cited Uche Nwosu’s precedent and contended that the number of days was irrelevant since, as the Supreme Court had previously stated, “time does not run” when considering cases of double nomination.

The PDP requested that the Supreme Court exercise its authority and assume jurisdiction over the case to overturn the lower courts’ earlier rulings and reassess the parties’ arguments.

The PDP claimed that Shettima’s nominations for vice president and Senator are against the terms of the Electoral Act.

The party asserted that Shettima’s Senate nomination had not been withdrawn from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he was nominated as Tinubu’s running mate, arguing that running for two posts at once was unlawful.

This is the latest suit seeking to stop Tinubu’s inauguration that will be dismissed by a law court.

On March 30, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by a former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, seeking the disqualification of the presidential candidates of the APC, Tinubu and the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, from the just concluded presidential election.

The court dismissed the appeal when the former minister withdrew it after learning that it had been submitted outside the legal deadline and was; therefore, statute barred.

The Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had dismissed the matter on the grounds that the case lacked merit.

Nwajiuba and a non-governmental organisation, Rights for Everyone International, had petitioned the Supreme Court to annul the procedures that resulted in Tinubu and Abubakar emerging as the candidates for their respective political parties.

Similarly, the Court Of Appeal on May 25 slammed a N40 million fine on an ex-presidential candidate, Ambrose Owuru, for filing a suit to stop Tinubu’s inauguration.

The three-member panel of the court led by Jamil Tukur determined that by initiating a frivolous, vexatious, and annoying lawsuit to irritate the respondents, Owuru had engaged in a blatant abuse of the legal system.

Owuru, the presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in the 2019 elections, filed a suit in April challenging the outcome of the 2019 elections. He claimed he won the poll.

He requested that the court declare the President’s seat vacant and order that he be sworn in as the legitimate winner.

However, in its judgment on May 25, the appellate court decided that the appellant’s complaints about the 2019 presidential election were unusual and unwarranted, given that they had been taken to the highest court and were rejected for lack of substance.

The court ruled that Owuru’s attempt to revive the case that was dismissed in 2019 was made to bring lower courts into conflict with the supremacy of the apex court.

The court ordered that the defendants in the case — President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Tinubu — should receive N10 million each from Owuru as compensation.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tinubu and Shettima will be sworn in as President and Vice President on May 29 for a tenure of four years.

 

[OPINION] ICPC Commissioner GT Idris as Makaman Katsina, a good example of a great leader

Editorial
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[OPINION] ICPC Commissioner GT Idris as Makaman Katsina, a good example of a great leader

By Hassan Salihu

Garba Tukur Idris is a good example of a great leader, whose highly cherished assets are in his competence and integrity. His intellectual ability and humility justified his recent appointment as Makaman Katsina and District Head of Bakori Local Government by the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman.

The newly enthroned District Head was born in Bakori town of Katsina state on May 13 1968, into Iya Nadabo Fulani Family with royal domains occupying Bakori, Kankara, Ketare, Tsiga and Danja Districts of Katsina state.

Garba’s late father, a doctor, Tukur Idris Nadabo, ruled in a similar capacity for 29 years and passed on at the age of 73.

During the reign of his late father, peacebuilding, justice, and security were his established positive qualities, which his son, the current Makama, intends to sustain and uphold.

GT Idris is a reliable ally and a true Muslim steward in human and economic developmental drives. In truth, he possesses remarkable superior managerial prowess to frontally confront the security and social challenges bedevilling Bakori’s local government.

Garba Tukur Idris.
Garba Tukur Idris.

The amiable royal icon has a long and glorious career with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since 2002. He is the current Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of Sokoto state.

The Makama’s capacity to handle the leadership demands of his new office will be powered by the power of knowledge assets garnered within his 21 years in the service of ICPC. His ability to transmit these experiences and their products into this leadership position is not in doubt.

Makama, who served as the Deputy Head of ICPC Operations, has represented the Commission effectively in numerous important national assignments, such as the Pension Reform Task Team that corrected the national pension administrative system and the Presidential Committee for the winding up of SURE-P.

Like any other Muslim child, the young Garba received his early Islamic education before attending Nadabo Primary School Bakori in 1980. He sat for Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination and finished top of his class to proceed to Government Day Secondary School Bakori.

Garba earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state 1993, and served his National Youth Service at Adamawa state. He later briefly participated in national politics before returning to his alma mater ABU Zaria in 2000 to obtain a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy

He attended various courses and trainings within and outside the country, to mention a few institutes: Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); Public Service Institute of Nigeria, (PSIN), Defence Intelligence College; Hongkong University, National Judicial Institute, U.S Embassy in Nigeria; Police Staff College, 177 Guards Battalion, London Graduate School, Johannesburg, South-Africa and Centre for Management Development.

Garba is a member of numerous professional bodies such as the Institute of Fraud Examiners, and Certified Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria and many others.

He is married to Fatima and blessed with five beautiful children.

ALLAH (swt) shi jaa Zamanin Makaman Katsina, Hakimin Bakori Local Government.

Salihu, writes from ICPC Headquarters Abuja
May 24, 2023.

May 29: Police tighten security in FCT, block roads around Eagle Square

Ijeoma OPARA
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May 29: Police tighten security in FCT, block roads around Eagle Square

THE Police has tightened security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the inauguration of a new administration on May 29.

The inauguration will usher in a new administration headed by President-elect Bola Tinubu, who was declared winner of the February 25 president election.

In a statement on Friday, May 26, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FCT Police Command Josephine Adeh said officers and men of the Police Force have been deployed to beef up security in the territory ahead of the event.

There are also collaborations between the Police and other security agencies to ensure that the event is held without any form of violence.

“The strategic, operational deployment is characterized by visibility policing across the Territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance, vehicular/foot patrol, and diversions at strategic points.”

Traffic is to be diverted at strategic points in the FCT, particularly in areas around the Eagle Square, venue of the inauguration.

The FCT police spokesperson listed the areas where traffic is to be diverted as Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/Total Filling Station, and POWA/FCDA Junction.

Diversions will also be created along the Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eagle Square (Phase 1 & Phase 11), Kur Muhammad Way/National Mosque, Abia House, and NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo.

Other areas are Gana Junction/Transcorp, Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, Ceddi Plaza, NNPC Twin Tower and NNPC/NBS.

The police spokesperson further disclosed that there would be a display of fireworks by midnight, Sunday, May 28, at the City Gate and Millennium Towers to usher in the new government. She urged residents not to panic.

The ICIR observed heavily armed police units at strategic locations in the FCT on Friday, May 26.

Mobile police vans were also observed patrolling parts of the FCT metropolis.

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